Regenerative agriculture, conceptually, seeks to bring together values that make agriculture more sustainable from an environmental perspective and, consequently, economical in an approach that aims to create more productive and resilient agricultural systems, seeking to conserve natural resources for future generations as a basic premise.

One of the main pillars for this model is soil conservation, starting from less disturbance, through maintenance of coverage and ending with an increase in the biodiversity present there. Crop rotation has its benefits amplified by improving the physical, chemical and biological components of the soil with cover crops, which also promote erosion control by reducing the impact of rain, reducing runoff and laminar erosion and increasing soil resistance to disintegration.

As a conservationist method of work, the Direct Planting or Minimum Preparation System seeks to reduce soil disturbance in order to maintain the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the soil and, consequently, a lower rate of oxidation and mineralization of organic matter, contributing to maintenance of fertility and consequent profitability of the agricultural system, providing the possibility of activating the maximum expression of genetic potential on the pillar of environmental conservation.

Considered one of the basic principles of agriculture, this practice ensures that microorganisms present in the soil play a vital role in fertility and quality, as it directly affects plant growth and agricultural production through practices that aim to identify management intensities that sustain or improve the soil in a sustainable way.

The activation of the soil microbiome through crop rotation presents us with some findings that must be considered:
1. Chemically similar soils are not necessarily biologically identical. The application of techniques such as rotation can make them distinct in this characteristic.
2. All healthy soil is productive, but not all productive soil is healthy.
3. Healthy soil stores more water, and the microbiome is what guarantees the stabilization of aggregates.

Combined with the continuous input of biomass from cover crops, rotation allows for macrofauna diversity as well as an increase in microbial biomass. This environment is also the scene of many biochemical reactions through the release of enzymes by bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi. arbusculares, in addition to its metabolites that are beneficial to the soil, as they favor the decomposition of plant residues, biological fixation and cycling of nutrients with subsequent availability, in inorganic form, for plant growth, in addition to the suppression of pests, such as, for example, pathogenic phytonematodes.

Specifically in sugarcane cultivation, the benefits are increased by improving the quality of the plant, which is a key ally of the bioenergy sector and, therefore, essential for reducing dependence on non-renewable sources. The practice of planting another crop in the renovation of sugarcane fields has already proven to be very important, both in terms of soil conservation and the possibility of a financial return through the cultivation of crops with grain production or popularly known as the Grains in Rotation System with Cane. Among all the advantages, we can mention:
• soil cover, reducing erosion losses;
• taking advantage of soil production capacity;
• improvement of physical, chemical and biological capabilities;
• reduced incidence of pests, diseases and weeds;
• diversification;
• nutrient fixation and cycling;
• improving the use and efficiency of fertilizers and correctives;
• intensification of soil biological activity.

However, some care is also necessary: planning, structure and operational discipline (“timing” between operations). Another strong ally to environmental soil conservation is the use of control of nematodes that lodge in the roots and hinder the absorption of water and nutrients. The environmental change of combining cover crops and rotation allows for an effective and sustainable way to keep these harmful parasites at bay.

As previously stated, crop rotation in the agricultural sector is essential when it comes to ensuring conservation and reducing soil depletion, as the technique exists with the aim of alternating different crops in the same area that is used over the years. In this way, there is a qualitative improvement to the soil and the ecosystem in general, since the organic matter present at the site helps to improve soil health and promotes biodiversity and pest control from the culture developed there.

Furthermore, the increase in the input of plant biomass through cover crops in the production system increases the levels of organic matter in the soil and, consequently, the carbon stock, which, in addition to the effect on nutrient cycling, also contributes for adapting to and mitigating climate change caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Microbiological activity has also been used as an indicator of soil quality, as generally more than 90% of soil energy flow passes through microbial decomposers. Currently, with technological advances, we have metagenomic analyses, in which it is possible to access the DNA of microbial communities and infer information identifying which species of microorganisms are present in the soil, their functions and population level.

In addition to the direct benefits for soil health and agricultural productivity, regenerative agriculture is an essential partner in mitigating carbon dioxide and, therefore, in reducing climate change, as, by promoting an activity to enrich the soil used, it guarantees also that there is carbon sequestration. Regenerative agriculture has been proposed as an alternative means of food production with lower environmental and/or social impacts, or even positive ones, as the practice tends to increase sustainability in food production, including being part of strategies to mitigate climate change.

It can be said that the goal of regenerative agriculture is not to restore native pre-agricultural ecology and biological function, but rather to leverage ecological processes in nature within an agricultural system to improve the health of that same system. In this context, crop rotation with the alternation of plant species in agricultural areas stands out as a tool for improving soil health and constitutes the best alternative for sustainable and regenerative agriculture.